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‘BIRDS’ FOUR-ALL FROM GRACE!

05/12/2018 07:18:00 BY LWAZI DLAMINI

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Sports Editor
(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
Mb. Swallows......................(0) 0,
Simba Sports Club FC.......(2) 4,
Chama 27th, 32nd, Okwi 50th, Kagere 68th

MANZINI – The devastating hailstorm which left a trail in destruction in Bhunya and surrounding areas could well have also passed through the Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday.

The debris of the demolished homes was equally heart-drenching as the rubble of what remained of the country’s CAF Champions League representatives Mbabane Swallows after being chewed like a packet of Simba chips by a ruthless Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club 4-0 in astonishing fashion before less than 1 0000 disbelieving eyes at the modest venue.

Trailing by 4-1 from the first leg tie loss at the National Stadium in Dar Es Salaam last Wednesday, Simba Sports Club dished out another 4-0 football lesson to the Swallows of Mbabane that left their fans distraught at the fall from grace after twice successfully reaching the group stages of the CAF Inter-club competitions in the last two years.

mind-numbing

The result was a mind-numbing 8-1 aggregate scoreline defeat that can only be rivalled by Mbabane Highlanders’ 9-1 aggregate defeat to Zambia’s Nkana Red Devils in 1992 (the ‘Black Bull’ lost 2-0 at home and then suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat away in Lusaka). Previously, the other embarrassing defeat had been suffered by the self-same ‘Inkunzemnyama’ in 1986, two weeks after His Majesty King Mswati III’s coronation when the Jani Simulambo-coached side lost 8-1 on aggregate after losing 5-1 at home with Nichodemus ‘Ace’ Mashwama the lone scorer before going down 3-0 away in Cairo to Egypt’s Zamalek (formerly known as FC Nationals).

demoralising

Back to yesterday’s demoralising loss, which saw Swallows being booted out of the competition where they had started to make a name for themselves.
Swallows started on the back-foot as early as the 8th minute when the visitors almost scored when first leg tie two-goal hero John Bocco’s hard shot from inside the box after static defender, Ndumiso ‘Tower’ Ndaba slipped while trying to clear a Jonas Mkude lacerating pass, was brilliantly saved by reserved goalkeeper, Ntokozo Shabangu, who had been selected ahead of off-form Sandanezwe Mathabela.

However, they could have gone ahead when jersey number 19, Sandile Hlatshwako, in the 19th minute, squandered a great chance when he headed agonizingly wide an inviting Sizolwethu Shabalala cross.

clearance

After that miss, Simba FC struck eight minutes later when ‘man of the match’, the mercurial Zambian international Clatous Chama, took advantage of a poor clearance from Swallows’ defender, Tower Ndaba, dribbled Siboniso Ndzabandzaba skilfully before firing a low drive into the back of the net.
Four minutes later, the talented Zambian international was in the picture again, this time showing his brilliance as he danced his way past a cluster of Swallows defenders before slicing the ball under the desperate hands of goalkeeper, Ntokozo Shabangu to complete his brace.

The game was over as a contest. Swallows made a double substitution which boggled the mind – pulling off defender, Sifiso Mabila for the erratic Tarawallie Sallieu and then Richard Mcreesh for Papy Sikhondze. Mcreesh showed his disdain by refusing to sit on the bench, taking a walk of shame to the dressing room, much to chagrin of the Swallows faithfuls on the grandstand who were irked by his actions.

As the Seychelles referee, Emile Fred blew his half-time whistle, as if bowing to Simba FC’s masterly display, the sun came out after the 45 minutes of light drizzle.

Five minutes after the recess, Simba surged ahead when Ugandan international Emmanuel Okwi cut through the porous-as-sieve Swallows defence like hot knife through butter from deep of his own half, before slicing the ball past the desperate hands of goalkeeper, Shabangu.
Captain John Bocco hit the bar with a scorcher in the 66th minute with Swallows, at this stage, going through the motions as the visitors dictated terms in every department.

scored

It came as no surprise when two minutes later, Kagere Medie, who scored in the first leg tie last Wednesday, finished off with a low shot following some swift inter-change of passes which pried the ‘Birds’ defence open like the biblical Red Sea at Moses’ behest.
Some of the Swallows fans had seen enough, leaving the stadium in droves at a funeral pace.

Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga watched in agony from the VIP box while stand-in coach, Kinnah Phiri, slouched in his seat insolently as if watching the kids at a Christmas family party making a fool of themselves. It was as equally devastating as the hailstorm that caused irreparable damage in Bhunya and surrounding areas yesterday afternoon.